Michelle Raaen addressed the Mabel City Council at their November 9 meeting. “I’ve heard complaints around town about the feral cats,” she commented. She was willing to work with the city to come up with a way to deal with the problem other than using the standard catch and kill method. “I can start an organization and fundraise for it if the city doesn’t want to be involved,” Raaen offered.
Mayor Jim Westby thanked Raaen for her concern and willingness to help, but informed her that the city does not employ the catch and kill method. Instead, feral cats are captured and taken to area farms to live. “We have not killed any. They’re good for the farms,” he noted. After they’re moved, farmers generally keep them in an enclosed area with food and water for a time to encourage them to stay put. There are currently several farmers who have requested more cats.
Raaen was relieved to hear that the cats are not killed. “It would be best to fix them before taking them to the farms. We could use a clip on the ear to identify which ones have been fixed,” she suggested. She has already spoken with Camp Companion, an animal rescue organization, to find a cost effective way to do so. For groups of eight or more cats, the cost would run approximately $50-$60 per cat to have them spayed and neutered.
Raaen also volunteered to put together a group of people willing to figure out how to keep the feral cats in town out of residents’ gardens and lawns by using feeding sites and sandboxes on the outskirts of town.
Council member Melissa Folstad asked about the possibility of distributing information to Mabel residents on the importance of not feeding the feral cats so as to get them under control. “They’re good for mice control,” she added, noting that it can be helpful to have at least a few cats around town.
It was stressed that Mabel residents are encouraged to call the city to report feral cats and can have full assurance that the cats will not be killed, but relocated.
The council discussed the potential sale of the fire department’s tanker truck. Bids had been accepted at a prior meeting to sell it, but came in under the expected amount and so were turned down. “Should we get rid of it or try to get more for it?” City Administrator Karen Larson asked. The matter was tabled while Mayor Westby finds out more information.
Three hundred fifty-two Mabel voters turned up on November 8 to vote in the elections. Jim Westby was reelected as mayor for another two years. Kirsten Wyffels, Gary Morken, Terry Torkelson, and Melissa Folstad were elected as the members of the city council for four year terms.
A zoning permit application from Charles Holland was reviewed and approved at the meeting.
City Administrator Karen Larson brought it to the attention of the council that many of the applicants have already started the work before their permits are approved at the monthly city council meetings. “The permits are good for two years,” Larson pointed out, adding that that allowed residents plenty of time to apply early. That will no longer be tolerated and cease and desist motions along with a fine will be given to those who do not wait for their permits to be approved. City Works Director Bob Miereau suggested speaking with local contractors to make them aware of the policy. A letter will be sent out with the utility bills informing residents of the enforcement.
A resolution authorizing the assessment of unpaid special charges was approved. Letters have been sent out and people will have until December 1 to pay their bills or assessments will be made on their taxes.
Over $2,000 in unpaid utility bills will have to be written off as uncollectable by the city. No contact info for the offending individuals is available and efforts to locate them have been unsuccessful. “I hate to do it, but we have no recourse,” City Administrator Karen Larson pointed out. The council approved a resolution providing authorization to write off the uncollectable bills.
Mayor Westby informed the council that the American Legion in Mabel would like to relocate the Army tank and monument from the city park to Steam Engine Park. During the winter, kids like to sled near the city park, and several have been injured from crashing into the monument. Mayor Westby suggested putting up a picnic shelter on the cement slab that the tank currently sits on. The council was amenable to the idea and agreed that it would be nice to have both the tank and monument at Steam Engine Park. The work will not be started until spring 2017.
Miereau informed the council that all but three of the new water meters have been installed and extended thanks to Mabel citizens for their cooperation in the project.
All of the LED streetlights purchased with the money from the Rockwell Collins grant have been installed. Miereau plans to apply for the grant again in 2017 to purchase LED lights for the rest of Mabel.
It was noted that there are residents who pump the groundwater from their sump pump into the sewer system, which is illegal. Miereau will be working with homeowners around Mabel to fix that problem.
The new snow parking ordinance went into effect on November 1. As there has been no snow so far, it’s not known how people will adapt to it yet.
It was brought to Larson’s attention that some residents of Mabel are unaware that they need to sign up to receive a house number from the city. She asked that those who still need a number to hang on their home stop into the city offices to register for one.
The next Mabel City Council meeting will be held on December 14 at 7 p.m.
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